Physics and Physics/Engineering Dual-Degree - West Virginia ...
←
→
Page content transcription
If your browser does not render page correctly, please read the page content below
Physics and Physics/Engineering Dual-Degree
West Virginia Wesleyan College
G. Albert Popson, Jr., Chair 304-473-8070 popson@wvwc.edu https://www.wvwc.edu
We appreciate your interest in Physics and Engineering
at West Virginia Wesleyan College. Here is information on
employers, internships, sample class schedules, our NASA
affiliation, labs, new equipment, and student projects.
Our hands-on approach emphasizes labs. In recent years,
we have benefited from grants from the U.S. Department
of Education, NSF, NASA, Dominion Resources, the
Naylor Foundation, and generous alumni. These grants
fund student projects and help us keep our labs up-to-date.
Our graduates report satisfying professional careers. Our
graduates often pursue an M.S. or Ph.D., and in the last
five years, our acceptance rate into these programs is 94%. Our senior class with the faculty, January 2020.
What is the Physics/Engineering Dual-Degree program?
These are agreements with West Virginia University, toward our physics degree. Students benefit by starting their
Marshall University, Virginia Tech, and the University of engineering studies in our smaller classes. Many students
Virginia. Students study three years at Wesleyan followed have found that a strong physics background enables them
by about two years at one of the universities. Students earn to better understand the theory behind engineering practice.
two degrees — Wesleyan’s A physics background
physics degree and the univer- is especially valuable to
sity’s engineering degree. engineers who are working
Students can finish these in on projects at the forefront
about five years because many of the profession.
of Wesleyan’s courses count In addition, many of our
toward the university’s engi- students successfully partici-
neering degree, and many of Meet our faculty—Dr. Reynolds, Dr. Popson, Dr. pate in sports, student govern-
the university’s courses count Wiest, Dr. DeLaney, Mr. Grose (technician) ment, theatre, and music.
We welcome last year’s freshman class
Where do our graduates work?
Alliant Technical EPIC Systems Johnson & Johnson National Energy Tower Engineering
American Electric Fischione Instruments Lockheed-Martin Technology Lab Toyota
BAE Systems General Electric Mercy Cancer Center Omnia Medical United Hospital Center
Ball Aerospace General Motors Mitre Corporation PDC Energy U.S. Army Corps of
Bell Helicopters Hermes Abrasives Morton-Thiokol Pratt and Whitney Engineers
Bechtel-Bettis Hewlett-Packard Monongahela Power Raytheon U.S. Naval Air Station
Caterpillar Huntington Medical Motorola Rockwell Automation U.S. Well Service
Corhart Refractories Physicists Mylan Labs Schlumberger Vantage Oncology
Cutler-Hammer Jacobs Engineering NASA-Glenn Shell Oil Weatherford
Dynetics Aerospace Kettering Cancer NASA-Langley Siemens WV Division of
DuPont Center NASA-Marshall Thrasher Engineering Highways
Summer internships B.S. in Applied Physics
Antero Resources Jefferson National Lab This major is designed for students who are interested in
Cleveland Clinic Oak Ridge National Lab physics applications to help meet the society’s needs. It is
Corhart Refractories Pennsylvania Department of a four-year program that includes the courses in our Dual-
Cornell University Transportation Degree Physics/Engineering and B.S. Physics programs.
Energy Corporation of Pickering Energy Solutions
The program has all the components of modern experi-
America Raytheon
mental and theoretical physics. Our hands-on system has
Johns Hopkins University Penn State University
one or two labs each semester. Students in the Applied
LEAM Drilling Services Rutgers University
Physics program find succeed in summer internships and
NASA-Fairmont Thrasher Engineering
graduate school. They have also obtained professional
NASA-Glenn Toyota
employment at national labs and industry.
NASA-Goddard University of Florida
NASA-Langley University of Utah Typical class schedule
National Energy Tech- Virginia Tech
nology Laboratory Walter Reed Medical Center
Year 1, Fall Year 1, Spring
General Physics I 4 General Physics II 4
National Institute of Stand- West Virginia University
Calculus I 4 Human Communication 3
ards and Technology Weyerhaeuser
Composition I 3 Composition II 3
National Radio Astronomy WV Division of Highways
Freshman Seminar 4 General studies 6
Observatory WV Wesleyan College
Total 15 Total 16
Year 2, Fall Year 2, Spring
Engineering Mechanics 3 Mechanics of Materials 3
Light & Atomic with Lab 4 Nuclear with Lab 4
Chemistry I with Lab 4 Chemistry II with Lab 4
Calculus II 4 Calculus III 4
Technology for Calculus 1 Laser Lab 1
Total 16 Total 16
Year 3, Fall Year 3, Spring
Digital Electronics & Lab 4 Materials Science & Lab 4
Differential Equations 4 Thermodynamics 3
Scientific Programming 3 Analytical Mechanics 3
Humanities 3 Fluid Mechanics 3
General studies 3 General studies 3
Dylan’s superconductivity project at Wesleyan Total 17 Total 16
Graduate schools Year 4, Fall
Analog Electronics & Lab 4
Year 4, Spring
Solid State & Lab 4
West Virginia University Penn State University Electromagnetic Theory 3 Quantum Mechanics 3
University of Virginia Purdue University Engineering Lab 1 Engineering Mathematics 3
Virginia Tech Stanford University Research Seminar I 1 Research Seminar II 1
Marshall University University of Arizona General studies 6 General studies 6
Case Western Reserve Univ. University of Cincinnati Total 15 Total 17
Clemson University University of Delaware
Cornell University University of Florida
Colorado School of Mines University of Kentucky
Duke University University of Kansas
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University of Maryland
University University of Nevada
Georgia Tech University of New Mexico
George Mason University University of North Carolina
George Washington Univ. University of Pennsylvania
Hofstra University University of Pittsburgh
Lehigh University University of Wisconsin
Ohio State University Vanderbilt University Spectra of sodium, mercury, helium, and hydrogen
Freshman Engineering Design
Our NASA affiliation Physics/Engineering Dual
Wesleyan is a member of the NASA-WV Space Grant Con- Degree—typical class schedule
sortium, which funds summer research for students to work at
Wesleyan and sites such as NASA-Langley. Wesleyan offers Aerospace, Civil, Industrial, Mechanical
NASA Fellowships to eleven students (freshmen preferred) to Year 1, Fall Year 1, Spring
help pay for college. NASA provides expertise to our SPACE Engineering Design I 1 Engineering Design II 1
Club to build payloads launched from NASA sounding rockets. General Physics I 4 General Physics II 4
Calculus I 4 Composition II 3
Freshman Seminar 4 Humanities 3
General studies 3 General studies 6
Total 16 Total 17
Year 2, Fall Year 2, Spring
Faculty congratulate our NASA Fellowship winners. Engineering Mechanics 3 Mechanics of Materials 3
Light and Atomic & lab 4 Electro-Optics Lab 1
Calculus II 4 Calculus III 4
SPACE Club Analog Electronics & lab 4 Technology for Calculus 1
NASA supports our SPACE Club. General studies 3 General studies 9
Students in the SPACE Club are work- Total 18 Total 18
ing on this year’s NASA Space
Flight Design Challenge. Their Year 3, Fall Year 3, Spring
objective is to design and build a Chemistry I with lab 4 Chemistry II with lab 4
payload that will detect cosmic rays Differential Equations 4 Engineering Math 3
during the flight of a sounding rocket. Electromagnetic Theory 3 Analytical Mechanics 3
Members participate in regular Scientific Programming 3 Thermodynamics 3
design reviews at NASA-Fairmont, General studies 3 Engineering Lab 1
just like NASA engineers. Total 17 General studies 3
Photo: Last summer, two SPACE
Total 17
Club members went to the NASA
facility at Wallops Island for their
payload’s launch. Years 4-5 — Engineering at chosen university
General Physics Lab
Applied Physicists Robert Hardin (Ph.D. Physics, WVU) is a nuclear
physicist at Oak Ridge National Lab.
work with lasers, nuclear power, quality control,
radiation safety, solar panels, airport security Tom Damiani (Ph.D. Physics, WVU) designs propul-
systems, electron microscopes, and robotics. sion systems for submarines and aircraft carriers at the
Bechtel-Bettis Nuclear Lab in Pittsburgh.
Alex Bradley-Popovich (2020) is pursuing an M.S.
in Applied Math and Physics at the University College in Robert Powell is a field engineer at the Bechtel-Bettis
Dublin, Ireland. Nuclear Lab in Pittsburgh.
Corey Rhodes had a summer internship at the National Wes Hughes (M.S. in Applied Physics, University of
Institute of Standards and Technology studying the sensi- Oregon): “I work at Fischione Instruments as a designer
tivity of atomic force microscopes. of ion milling equipment that prepares specimens to be
used in electron microscopes.”
Tim Suder (2020) is pursuing an M.S. at the University
of Pittsburgh.
Paige Stinson (2020) is studying for a Ph.D. in Optical
Science at the University of North Carolina—Charlotte.
She has published a research paper, Metasurfaces fabri-
cated using two-photon polymerization.
Antonio Vega (2019) is pursuing an M.S. in Optical
Photonics at the University of Central Florida. Wes returned to Wesleyan to give a presentation.
Mark Leadingham (2018; M.S., University of Dela- James Abraham is the radiation safety officer at
ware) works at General Dynamics in their Landsat 8/9 Colorado State University.
programs, which tracks how land is used.
Joe Zambelli is a physical scientist at the National
Kim Culver (2017) works at Osiris Therapeutics in Energy Technology Lab in Morgantown.
Columbia, Md. The company researches, manufactures,
and commercializes regenerative medicine products. Jason Martin (M.S. University of Virginia) teaches at
the Naval Nuclear School in Charleston, S.C.
Michael Scruggs (M.S. Optical Physics, University of
Arizona) is a laser physicist at the Naval Surface Warfare Aaron Weaver (M.S. Physics, WVU) instructs physics
Dahlgren Division. labs at the State University of New York in Brockport.
Engineering Lab
Steam engine/generator Air conditioner Heat pump
Wind tunnel Concrete tester Tensile tester
Aerospace Engineers Will George (2015; internship at NASA Langley;
M.S. Virginia Tech, 2017) reports, “My work at Pratt &
design airplanes, spacecraft, rockets, fuel-efficient Whitney involves testing designs of new engines, testing
cars, propulsion systems, and guidance systems. hardware improvements, and FAA certification tests.”
Baylee Senator had a summer internship at the Univer-
sity of South Florida to improve smart sensor technologies
for space research and aerospace applications.
Russell Gillespie (M.S. Embry-Riddle Aeronautical
University) is a software verification engineer at the U.S.
Missile Defense Agency in Huntsville, Ala.
Alexa Mortenson (2018) completed an M.S. in Aero-
space Engineering at New Mexico State University, where
she specialized in attitude control of satellites. Alexa is a
space engineer at Peraton in Las Cruces, N.M.
Cody O’Meara (M.S., Ohio State) is a research engi-
neer at NASA-Glenn. While at Wesleyan, Cody had a
summer internship designing diffusers at NASA-Langley. Will George (white shirt) in Langley’s 20-ft wind tunnel
Josh Keane (M.S., George Washington University): Mark Leadingham (2018; M.S., University of Dela-
“I work at Bell Helicopters on projects such as the UH-1 ware) works at General Dynamics as a Ground Systems
Huey, the AH-1 Cobra, and the V-22 tilt rotor helicopters.” Engineer with the Landsat 8/9 program. Landsat 9 is
scheduled for launch in September 2021. Mark frequently
Matt Edwards (M.S., University of North Carolina, collaborates with the Goddard Space Flight Center.
Charlotte) works for Dynetics in Huntsville, Ala., where
he is a design engineer for the Artemis Human Landing Olivia Rycroft (2019) has a new job as a Software
System, which is scheduled to land a woman and a man Systems Engineer with Aerodyne at NASA-Huntsville.
on the Moon’s south pole in 2024. She reports, “I work on writing the requirements for the
flight software for the new Space Launch System. During
Robert Vollmerhausen (2014) completed our Dual- my job interview, the only thing I was asked about was my
Degree Engineering program at WVU. He works at the experience involving the Space Flight Design Challenge
Naval Air Command in California. with Dr. DeLaney in Wesleyan’s SPACE Club.”
Chris Kuhl ’93 contributes to NASA’s Mars landing project
We celebrate with Chris Kuhl for his role as Chief Engi- divert around hazardous terrain.
neer for Entry and Landing of the NASA MEDLI-2 mission Kuhl graduated from our program in 1993 and earned
to Mars project that successfully landed February 18, 2021. an M.S. in Aerospace Engineering from Purdue University.
On board was the Perseverance Rover, which is search- Kuhl has worked at NASA-Langley for the last 20 years.
ing for signs of ancient microbial life. The rover is testing
technologies to pave the way for future humans to explore
the planet, such as extracting oxygen from the atmosphere,
which is 96% CO2. The rover has a drill to collect core
samples of soil and a new system will allow the rover to
Installing sensors on the heatshield (left) and backshell
(right). Kuhl is the person on the left.
Biomedical Engineers Physics/Engineering Dual
design and implement neural repair, pacemakers, Degree—Biomedical Engineering
hip replacements, and genetic manipulations. Students study three years at Wesleyan, followed by
Paige Rutter studied silver nanoparticles in a summer about two years at an articulation university. Students
internship at WVU. Paige reported, “If these are put into earn two degrees—Wesleyan’s physics degree and a B.S.
the cement at a joint replacement, the result could be lower in Biomedical Engineering from the university.
infection rates and faster healing.”
Typical class schedule
Taylor Price had a summer internship at WVU to study Year 1, Fall Year 1, Spring
photonic crystals to be used as optical biosensors. Engineering Design I 1 Engineering Design II 1
General Physics I 4 General Physics II 4
Troy Schifano earned an M.S. at the University of Chemistry I with Lab 4 Chemistry II with Lab 4
Alabama. He owns Omnia Medical in Morgantown. The Composition I 4 Composition II 3
company provides medical and surgical products for Calculus I 4 General studies 6
spinal pathology and neurological and orthopedic trauma. Total 17 Total 18
Dillon Huffman is pursuing a
Year 2, Fall Year 2, Spring
Ph.D. in Biomedical Engineering
Princ. Biology I & Lab 4 Princ. Biology II & Lab 4
at the University of Kentucky.
Calculus II 4 Calculus III 4
“I work in the Neural Systems
Technology for Calculus 1 Electro-Optics Lab 1
Lab on signal acquisition and
Analog Electronics & Lab 4 Humanities 3
machine learning to build com-
Light & Atomic with Lab 4 General studies 6
putational models of brain states
Total 17 Total 18
from EEG data. It’s satisfying to
see how your work translates to
Year 3, Fall Year 3, Spring
a clinical setting in a field that is Anatomy & Physiology I 4 Anatomy & Physiology II 4
innovative and growing.” Electromagnetic Theory 3 Analytical Mechanics 3
Parag Chitnis earned a Ph.D. at Boston University and Differential Equations 4 Engineering Lab 1
worked at the Lizzi Center for Biomedical Research. He is Scientific Programming 3 Economics 3
currently a Professor of Biomedical Engineering at George General studies 3 General studies 6
Mason University. He researches ultrasound-assisted drug Total 17 Total 17
delivery systems, ultrasound contrasting agents, and cancer
treatments using combined acoustical and optical methods. Years 4-5 — Engineering at the chosen university
Wesleyan connections result in an exciting
career opportunity at NASA for Olivia Rycroft ‘19
An alumni connection resulted in an exciting career to where Mr. Lindeman was sitting,” said Rycroft. “Tony
opportunity for Olivia Rycroft ’19, who has joined NASA was supportive and enthusiastic, especially about my Rock-
in Huntsville, Ala., as a Software Systems Engineer. Sat experience at Wesleyan, which involved the design of
Two years ago, Rycroft listened to a talk at a meeting a payload for a NASA sounding rocket.
of the Engineering/Physics Club by Tony Lindeman ’80, “He went above and beyond to help me with my resume
who at that time was a and cover letter. He looked for job openings he thought
member of Wesleyan’s were a good fit for me. We had many email exchanges.”
Board of Trustees. He Shortly afterward, Rycroft was contacted by a Team
has enjoyed a highly Lead at Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC). “The
successful career at Team Lead had seen my resume and asked if I was
NASA and other aero- interested in applying for my current position,” she added.
space firms. “During my interview, the only thing that I was asked
Last May, Rycroft about was my experience in the RockSat program that I
was reintroduced to Lindeman by Bob Skinner ’75, vice participated in with Dr. DeLaney at Wesleyan. The Rock-
president for advancement, at the annual senior class picnic. Sat program is essentially a small scale systems engineer-
“Mr. Skinner asked about my career plans. When I said ing project.” Rycroft now works on the Space Launch
‘aerospace engineering,’ he immediately walked me over System (SLS) Flight Software requirements team.
Chemical engineers Civil engineers
adapt chemical reactions to produce industrial design, construct, and operate facilities such as
quantities of chemicals, fuels, and other products. highways, bridges, and drinking-water systems.
Thomas Haines (M.S. WVU, 2019) works at Worley Mitchell Williams is completing our Dual-Degree
(previously Jacobs Engineering) in Elkview, WV. “I have program in civil engineering at WVU. He emails, “I have
been hired as a process engineer and will also be assisting only 15 more semester hours to complete my degree.”
the mechanical engineering department. My goal is to take
the FE exam this fall and start working towards my PE.” Emily Kearney completed our Dual/Degree program
with WVU in 2020. She is a bridge inspection trainee at
Kim Richards Farnsworth (Ph.D., Georgia Tech). the WV Division of Highways in Bridgeport.
“I work at Chemours in Parkersburg as Division Engineer
Eleni Brick is in our Dual-Degree program at WVU.
for Teflon. I work to improve the production process and
to search for new polymers.” Austin Jarrell is pursuing an M.S. in Civil Engineer-
ing at Marshall University. In the summer of 2020, Austin
Our laser spectroscopy apparatus worked on a sustainable pavement project with the Federal
High-way Administration.
Alex Lipscomb works at Civil and Environmental
Consultants in Bridgeport.
Wes Steele (M.S. WVU) works at Madjeski and
Madjeski in Harrisburg, Pa. on structural design of bridges.
Ben Vance (B.S. Wesleyan; M.S., WVU) is a civil
engineer at the WV Division of Highways
Jennifer Cook (M.S. Civil Engineering, WVU) is a
bridge designer at Palmer Engineering in Lexington, Ky.
Dustin Schilpp (M.S., University of Maryland) is a
civil engineer at Sabra-Wang in Baltimore.
X-ray crystallography at Wesleyan Amelia Riley (M.S., WVU)
works at the U.S. Army Corps
of Engineers in Wilmington,
N.C. At Wesleyan, she tested
the compressive strength of a
variety of concretes (photo).
Jason Jackson (M.S., WVU)
is a field engineer at Kokosing
Engineering in Charleston, WV.
Thomas Bartleman (M.S.
Stanford University) works for
the software company Aperia
Science Public Outreach Team Technology.
This is an organization of college students who travel Andrew Cvetnick is pursuing an M.S. at WVU,
to schools to give science presentations to students K-12. specializing in detecting leaks in fiber reinforced pipes.
SPOT members give Universe in the Park presentations
at Stonewall Resort, which include talks on research at the Brenton Stone (M.S., University of Virginia) designs
Green Bank Observatory and backyard astronomy. In bridges at Volkert and Associates.
addition, participants can observe planets with our large
Dobsonian telescope and hike through our Planet Walk, Ed Hasis (M.S. University of Pittsburgh) is a project
which is a scale model Solar System. engineer at Mascaro Construction in Pittsburgh.
Electrical Engineers
develop communication systems such as cell
phones, control systems such as microprocessors,
and electrical power transmission systems.
Kaylee Burdette (2020) is pursuing an M.S. at
Marshall University.
SQUIDS. Rebecca Davis (2020) had a summer intern-
ship studying superconducting quantum interference de-
vices at Cornell with Dr. Katja Nowak. SQUIDs are highly
sensitive detectors of magnetic fields. Applications include
brain scans and detecting land mines and submarines. She
studied a procedure to tune SQUIDs for minimizing noise.
Power engineering. Alex White (M.S. WVU, 2019)
works for FCX Systems in Morgantown. Alex reports,
“I design high-power custom frequency converters mainly Zach and Antonio are mixing two electronic signals.
involving government contracts.”
General Motors. Colby Stanley (M.S. Duke University,
Tesla coil. Corey Rhodes
2017) works at General Motor’s Milford Proving Grounds.
earned an M.S. at Virginia
Tech (2017). For his senior Colby reports, “I mentor new engineers as they rotate
project at Wesleyan, Corey through our team every four months. I train them on the
designed a 400,000-volt software and physics behind our work, and I work alongside
them to improve our software capabilities.
solid-state tesla coil. Corey
“I drive vehicles on the track prior to the public debut.
had an internship at NASA-
Glenn, working on electric I write software that runs in the engine-control modules of
propulsion for deep-space vehicles to detect misfire in accordance with government
probes using Hall-effect regulations. My software goes into every car GM makes.”
and gridded-ion thrusters.
This led to his employment Avalanche diodes at NIST. Merrik Malin had a sum-
at NASA-Glenn. mer internship (2019) studying single-photon avalanche
diodes (SPADs) with Dr. Kevin Bienfang at the National
Electromagnetic shielding. Kody Tucker (2019) earned Institute of Standards and Technology. These devices pro-
an M.S. in Electrical Engineering at WVU. Kody works at vide a convenient solid-state detector of individual photons.
Omni-Threat Structures. The company designs and builds
hardened concrete structures that shield against high- U.S. Department of
altitude electromagnetic pulses, intentional electromagnetic Justice. Brian Mont-
interference, and explosions. He is working on designing a gomery (M.S. Central
new building at NASA-Glenn in Cleveland. Michigan University)
works for the U.S.
Rockwell Automation. Dave Klebe (M.S. Penn State) Department of Justice
emailed, “I manage a team in manufacturing pulp and in Washington, DC.
paper technology for Rockwell Automation. This is a
$900-million business devoted to large-scale industrial Raytheon Vision
projects. One of my recent projects is a materials-handling Systems. Jay Bazzano
system for a Chicago news press.” designs night-vision
devices.
Field engineer. Denny Vincent emails, “I am a field
engineer at First Energy in Fairmont and have nearly com- Kichler Lighting,
pleted the three-year training program. I operate computer Cleveland. Thomas
programs that switch electric circuits on and off. My job is Tyson (M.S. Penn
to strategically select circuits to enable necessary mainte- State). Alexa’s digital counting circuit
nance while minimizing customer outages.”
Electronics lab Physics/Engineering
Dual-Degree Electrical and
Computer Engineering
Year 1, Fall Year 1, Spring
Engineering Design I 1 Engineering Design II 1
General Physics I 4 General Physics II 4
Calculus I 4 Computer Sci. Discipline 3
Composition I 3 Composition II 3
Freshman Seminar 4 General studies 6
Total 16 Total 17
Mark programs the Comdyna analog computer.
Year 2, Fall Year 2, Spring
Analog Electronics & Lab 4 Calculus III 4
Light & Atomic with Lab 4 Electro-Optics Lab 1
Chemistry I with Lab 4 Chemistry II with Lab 4
Calculus II 4 Humanities 3
Technology for Calculus 1 General studies 6
Total 17 Total 18
Year 3, Fall Year 3, Spring
Digital Electronics & Lab 4 Discrete Mathematics 3
Object-Oriented Object-Oriented
Programing I 3 Programing II 3
Differential Equations 4 Engineering Mathematics 3
Josh Tenney’s Lissajous figure Electromagnetic Theory 3 Mechanics 3
Differential Equations 4 Economics 3
General studies 3 General studies 3
Total 17 Total 18
Years 4-5 — Engineering at the chosen university
Josh Keane shows us a diode’s characteristic curve. Zach is synthesizing a sawtooth wave.
Analog Electronics Lab
Geophysicists Industrial engineers
use remote sensing to discover and evaluate plan such things as assembly lines, hospital emer-
underground resources. gency rooms, and amusement park layouts.
Brendan Schwendeman (2019) is a process engineer Mark Mattis works at Systems Planning and Analysis
at Momentive Performance, St. Marys, WV. in Washington, D.C. Mark is also pursuing an M.S. at
George Mason University.
Wes Felton (2019) works with natural gas distribution
at Dominion-Hope, Bridgeport, WV. He reviews quality Chris Ly works at Ray-
assurance of pipeline installations, compliance with safety theon-Solyptis in Baltimore.
rules, and keeps track of the materials used. The company is paying Chris
Eric Wooten (2018) works at LEAM Drilling in Okla- to earn an M.S. at the Univer-
homa. He works on-site at measurement while drilling, sity of Maryland.
including assembly, testing, programming, and monitoring.
Bryan Corder completed
Ryan Holcomb (2017) and Cody Turner (2017) the Dual-Degree Engineering
work on natural gas projects at Thrasher Engineering program at WVU. Bryan says,
in Bridgeport. “Your careful planning made it
easy to transfer to WVU easy.”
Ryan North (Ph.D., Colorado School of Mines) works He works at the Bechtel-Bettis
at the U.S. Army Research Center, Vicksburg, Miss. nuclear facility in Pittsburgh. Viscosity apparatus
Medical physicists Zach Whiting (2019) is pursuing an M.S. in Medical
Physics at Hofstra University. He has a teaching assistant-
are licensed professionals who use radiation to treat
ship and is working on research involving dosimetry.
cancer. They use nuclear medicine, X-ray imaging,
computerized tomography, ultrasound, and MRIs. The Tom Holtschneider (M.S. University of Cincinnati)
American Board of Medical Physics reports an average practices at Kettering Grandview Hospital in Dayton, Ohio.
starting salary is $95,000.
Chera Gainer (M.S.
Peter Sandwall (2005) is Chief Medical Physicist at
University of Cincinnati)
Tri-Health Cancer Institute. Over the years, he has been a
practices at the Cabell
helpful resource for students interested in medical physics.
Huntington Hospital.
Austin Skinner (2020) is working on an M.S. at Hof-
Kate Turner Wagner
stra University. Austin also works at Northwell Health in
(M.S. Duke University)
their radiology department.
is a medical physicist at
Allison Haertter (2019) is pursuing an M.S. in Medical Wright-Patterson Hospi-
Physics at the University of Pennsylvania. She recently Our pulsed ultrasound apparatus tal in Dayton, Ohio.
made a presentation of her research at a conference of the
Michael Curry (M.S. East Carolina State University)
American Association of Medical Physicists.
practices at the Mercy Cancer Center in Des Moines, Iowa.
Emma Rickels (2018) is pursuing a doctorate in
Medical Physics at the University of Nevada at Las Vegas. Summer research students at Wesleyan
Her classes include Nuclear Physics, Radiation Biology,
and Cross-Sectional Anatomy.
Amy Patrick (M.S.
Vanderbilt) works at
the United Hospital
Center in Clarksburg.
Josh Carter (M.S.
Duke, 2018) practices at
the Medical University Front: Nate Chalmers, Rich Calo, Anna Puigvert, Virginia Martin.
Josh’s proton beam work at Wesleyan of South Carolina. Back: Dylan King, Josh Tenney, Ethan Randolph, Eric RoyMechanical Engineers Ryder Bolin (M.S. WVU) works at the Naval Air
Station in Patuxent, Maryland.
design devices that move, such as cars, heat
engines, and industrial machinery. Gary Valkavitch (M.S. UVa) works at Bechtel Plant
Machinery in Monroeville, Pa., where he focuses on relief
Daniel DeLorenzo (2020) is pursuing an M.S. at WVU. valves on nuclear reactors.
He has a research assistantship on solid-oxide fuel cells.
Derek·Johnson works
Andre Fernandes and Dustin Kimble are also working at Pentree Engineering in
on M.S. degrees at WVU. Princeton, W.Va. At Wes-
leyan, Derek designed a
Rebecca Davis (2019) is pursuing a Ph.D. at the Univer-
device that uses footfall
sity of Delaware. She was awarded a research grant from
energy from walking to
the National Science Foundation.
charge a battery.
Mackenzie Robatin (2019) is completing an M.S. at Landon Todd works at
Florida Institute of Technology. She has already accepted Garrett Container Systems,
a job offer at L3Harris Technologies in Palm Bay, Fla. where he uses AutoCad for
technical drawings of ship-
Pedro Martins completed our dual-degree program at
ping containers. Landon
WVU. Pedro reports, “I obtained a very good job at Knapp
is also pursuing an M.S.
Industries. The company designs and installs automation
from the University of
technology and software involving logistics and production
Maryland.
for the healthcare, textiles, and e-trade industries.”
Chad Moore (M.S. Georgia Tech) works at
Taylor Price is working on an M.S. in Mechanical
General Motors.
Engineering at the University of Pittsburgh.
Valerie Keefer Oldaker (M.S. WVU) is a quality
Ken Benson completed our Dual-Degree program at
specialist at Toyota in Buffalo, W.Va.
Virginia Tech and is enrolled in their M.S. program.
Summer research
Nate’s project in the plasma physics lab Anna solders a diode. Fracking simulation in geophysics
Paige is studying nuclei using tunable lasers. Hyperfine spectra of rare-earth elementsLaser Lab
Argon plasma Computerized spectrum
Homemade He-Ne laser Iodine in Nd:YAG laser Nitrogen laser
Guest speakers
Electrical engineering. Tom Tyson (B.S. Wesleyan,
M.S. Penn State) discussed his magnetic-resonance
Gravitational waves. Dr. Sean McWilliams spoke on research. The method is quite sensitive to weak magnetic
his work at the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave fields and can be used in airport security systems.
Observatory (LIGO). Gravitational waves are a key pre-
diction of Einstein’s theory of general relativity. Medical physics. Dr. Peter Sandwall (B.S. Wesleyan;
Ph.D. University of Cincinnati) is Chief Medical Physicist
Aerospace Engineering. William George (B.S. Wes- at Tri-Health Center Cancer Institute.
leyan, M.S. Virginia Tech) spoke on measuring airflow
in jet turbofan engines. He works at Pratt and Whitney.
Vv Higgs boson. Dr. Gavin Hesketh spoke on discover-
ing the Higgs boson at the European Center for Nuclear
Research (CERN). Hesketh is a member of the team that
made the discovery. The search for the Higgs boson began
in 1964, when Peter Higgs used the standard model of
particle physics to predict the Higgs boson’s existence.
vvvNuclear power. Dr. Tom Damiani discussed his work at
the Bechtel-Bettis Atomic Power Lab. He designs nuclear
propulsion systems for submarines and aircraft carriers.
Chemical engineering. Thomas Haines (B.S. Wes-
leyan, 2017) discussed his research to make plastic from
natural gas as a graduate student at WVU.
Civil engineering. Jennifer Morris Cook (B.S.
Wesleyan, M.S. WVU) discussed her work as a bridge
designer at Palmer Engineering.You can also read
